The Bielefelder Chicken is a breed of chicken that is known for being productive, docile, hardy, and easy to raise. In this article I will introduce you to all of the things you could possibly want to know about the Bielefelder Chicken Breed.
Origin Of The Bielefelder Chicken
The story of the Bielefelder Chicken Breed starts in Bielefeld, Germany, in the early 1970s. A chicken maestro named Gerd Roth set out on a goal to create what he would deem as a super chicken, in doing so he took on the role of Dr. Frankenstein (minus the horror) in the world of chicken breeding. His recipe was a mix of Amrock, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, Wyandotte, and a dash of Cuckoo Malines, Welsumer, and American Barred Rocks.
The Germans fell head over heels for this breed of chicken and named them “Bielefelder Kennhuhn” or simply Bielefelder. Despite their popularity with homesteaders and the Europeans, the APA (American Poultry Association) hasn’t yet to give the Bielefelder Chicken a stamp of approval.
What Do Bielefelder Chickens Look Like?
The Bielefelder chicken is an absolutely stunning breed of bird, and with all of those legendary breeds mixed into it how couldn’t it be. The hens usually rock a rather fancy brown attire with white and gray bars, resembling that of a subtle tiger print. The Rooster however screams flamboyance, they have orange-barred hackles, backs, and saddles which are a massive attention grabber. Their back tails, and breast often bear a white tint, taunting other breeds with their look of sophistication.
The chicks are born in two colors – and they’re auto-sexing, something that many in the world of poultry know to be a huge perk. Male chicks have lighter colors, kinda like an eggshell tuxedo, while the females wear a chipmunk-like stripe down their back.
These birds are LARGE, often towering over your average breed of chicken. The hens tend to tip the scales at 6.7 – 10 pounds, while the roosters weigh in at around 8.8 – 12 pounds.
How Many Eggs Do Bielefelder Chickens Lay?
Bielefelder hens are basically egg-laying machines, think of these chickens as if it was a golden goose situation minus the gold. They lay between 200 and 230 gargantuan eggs annually. You might be like, “But is that a lot?” Well, dear reader, they produce eggs the size of cantaloupes… okay, maybe not that big, but they’re large!
What Color Are Bielefelder Chicken Eggs?
Brown! But not just any brown, they’re like the dark chocolate you’d find in a box of luxury goods. You can almost these eggs whispering, “Eat me!” And if you’re into egg aesthetics, these Bielefelders can be cross-bred to create the heavily sought after “Olive Egger” chickens, a breed of chicken with is mostly commonly known to lay green eggs.
How Is The Bielefelder Chickens Personality?
If Bielefelder chickens were in high school, they would be voted “Most Likely to Be Everyone’s BFF.” They’re chill, friendly, and kinda like that big huggable friend who’s always got your back. These chickens are a bit more likely to try and take dominance of the pecking order though, so on occasion bullying may happen.
Roosters are ready for a cuddle but will throw down to protect their beloved hens like a knight in shining armor. They can withstand cold weather. This breed is also known for being quieter than the average chicken breed.
Life Span of Bielefelder Chickens.
On average, Bielefelder Chickens live for a good 7 to 10 years. And if you’re into the whole farm-to-table thing, the best time to cull these birds for meat is between 12 to 16 weeks of age, this makes the Bielefelder a remarkable dual purpose bird. Waiting too long to cull any dual purpose bird could lead to some tough meat, or off settling meat to fat ratios in general so make sure you understand what you’re doing before taking this route.
Health Issues with Bielefelder Chickens.
Bielefelders are well known for being a strong healthy breed of chicken. This breed is not known to have breed specific health problems. However like most chickens, they’re often affected by an array of smaller issues such as mites and lice. Some people have also said that their Bielefelder chickens have trouble during months that yield extremely cold weather.
Bielefelder Chickens In Your Flock?
If you’re sitting on the fence about adding Bielefelder chickens to your flock, here are the pros and cons of this breed.
Pros:
- Eggs for days!
- Massive Eggs
- They’re friendly.
- They don’t mind the cold. (Unless its too extreme)
Cons:
- Be ready for the extra feed costs.
- They might not be very friendly with chickens higher on the pecking order.